When I try to import a DXF file into the footprint editor, I get graphics of a 3 position terminal block, and a circle - neither of these are part of anything that I’ve drawn. There is only 1 dxf file on my computer, and I have verified what it looks like by using an online dxf viewer. Previously, I was using version 4.0.4, so I upgraded to 4.0.5, and the problem persists. The dxf file came from VISIO, line color orange. I’ve tried importing it to different layers, and the odd graphics move to the different layers, but my dxf data is nowhere to be found.

OK, I’ve got it. The DXF output from VISO was 1000x too small, and the units were inches instead of mm. That is, my 39mm long part was 0.039" long when imported into DoubleCad. So I changed the units in DoubleCad, scaled x1000, and exported the DXF (R14 format), and it imported into KiCad just fine.

I guess that’s one pitfall of using VISIO rather than CAD software to make the drawings. LibreCAD works well (KiCad’s DXF library is a particular version of the LibreCAD library) but other drafting software like Dassault’s DraftSight also work. In general, drafting software ensures that the appropriate units of length are specified in the DXF file. The other things to keep in mind about KiCad’s DXF import are: (1) objects will be imported from all layers, (2) the only supported objects at the moment are line, arc, polyline (all others, like points, are ignored).

OK, I’ve got it. The DXF output from VISO was 1000x too small, and the units were inches instead of mm. That is, my 39mm long part was 0.039" long when imported into DoubleCad. So I changed the units in DoubleCad, scaled x1000, and exported the DXF (R14 format), and it imported into KiCad just fine.

A useful enhancement for any DXF import would be a simple Extents-Sanity-report, and a means to set a scale factor, and maybe a new origin.

Some DXF’s can define units, but many do not, and it rather than dance through multiple CAD programs and tests, it is simpler if DXF import allows the simple housekeeping.